Councilman Frank Sharp passes away

EditorJune 5, 2017Comments Off on Councilman Frank Sharp passes away

COVINGTON – St. Tammany Parish Councilman Frank “Dennis” Sharp passed away at his home in Covington on Sunday after a long battle with cancer.
Sharp was elected to the Parish Council in 2011, then re-elected for a second term to represent District 2 in the northern region of Covington, an area he grew up in from his days as a child in the Lee Road community.
Sharp’s dedication to the parish and his love for the community were evident in his professional life, serving 33 years in the school system, then followed by his years of public service with the Parish Council.
St. Tammany Parish President Pat Brister issued the following statement after news was reported of Sharp’s death.
“It is with a heavy heart and deep sorrow that we announce the passing of a great man. My good friend Dennis Sharp, a honorable public servant and St. Tammany Parish Coun­­cil­­man, has lost his courageous battle with cancer,” Brister said. “My heart breaks for his wife Lisa and his close circle of family and friends.”

(See Sharp, pg. 10A)
Dennis was a quiet giant of a man that served his community with grace, and a dignity that we see all to seldom in politics. His wisdom and caring heart will be missed by those he knew, by those he served and by those, like myself and his fellow Councilmembers, who greatly admired him,” said Brister.
Sharp received his Bachelor’s Degree in Vocational Agri-Science Education from LSU, then added a Masters Degree in Education from SLU in 1978. He later returned to LSU for his Education Specialist Certification.
During his years working for the St. Tammany school system, he began as a teacher at Lee Road Junior High and quickly became sponsor of the Future Farmers of America. He later became principal there for seven years before advancing with the school system into administration, serving as a Supervisor. He retired in 2009 after 33 years of serving the school system.
Sharp was apparently not ready to slow down as he ran for the Parish Council seat in 2011, defeating two opponents, then winning his second seat in 2015 by taking 73 percent of the vote.
As a young man he had a talent for singing Gospel music and played in several bands.
He is survived by his wife and four children.
Funeral services will be held on Thursday, June 1 at Fitzgerald United Methodist Church, 80007 Fitzgerald Church Rd., Covington. A wake is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, May 31, from 6 to 9 p.m. at E.J. Fielding Funeral Home with visitation at the church on Thursday beginning at 10 a.m.